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A Brief History of Schoolcraft
A Brief History of Schoolcraft
The village of Schoolcraft was settled in 1831, which was the first established settlement in Kalamazoo county. After the War of 1812, President Madison was unable to pay the soldiers who fought in the war, so he offered them free settlement west. He sent a surveyor to Michigan, and he gave a report that made it sound awful and pioneers did not want to settle there, but when Lewis Cass, the governor of the Michigan territory heard the report, he commissioned his own survey, and brought Henry Rowe Schoolcraft with him. Lucius Lyon, who had settled the area, named the village after Schoolcraft in his honor.
The village of Schoolcraft was settled in 1831, which was the first established settlement in Kalamazoo county. After the War of 1812, President Madison was unable to pay the soldiers who fought in the war, so he offered them free settlement west. He sent a surveyor to Michigan, and he gave a report that made it sound awful and pioneers did not want to settle there, but when Lewis Cass, the governor of the Michigan territory heard the report, he commissioned his own survey, and brought Henry Rowe Schoolcraft with him. Lucius Lyon, who had settled the area, named the village after Schoolcraft in his honor.
When the Underground Railroad was on the path through Michigan, Dr. Nathan Thomas was the first physician in Kalamazoo county, and was asked to make his house apart of the Underground Railroad. During the time his house was apart of the Underground Railroad, 1,000 to 1,500 escaped slaves passed through his house, even though he had four kids, there was still room for escaped slaves.
When the Underground Railroad was on the path through Michigan, Dr. Nathan Thomas was the first physician in Kalamazoo county, and was asked to make his house apart of the Underground Railroad. During the time his house was apart of the Underground Railroad, 1,000 to 1,500 escaped slaves passed through his house, even though he had four kids, there was still room for escaped slaves.
After the Civil War ended, Thomas built a new brick house on the same corner, and moved his old house. It has been there for a century and a quarter. In 1975, the old house, known as the Underground Railroad house, was purchased by the Schoolcraft Historical Society, and has been repaired and added to the National Register of Historical Places. The house shows us an example of life in the 19th century, and a house where many fugitive slaves passed through.
After the Civil War ended, Thomas built a new brick house on the same corner, and moved his old house. It has been there for a century and a quarter. In 1975, the old house, known as the Underground Railroad house, was purchased by the Schoolcraft Historical Society, and has been repaired and added to the National Register of Historical Places. The house shows us an example of life in the 19th century, and a house where many fugitive slaves passed through.
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